Sunday, Feb. 15, William and Mary women’s basketball (14-11, 7-6 CAA) defeated Towson (14-11, 7-6 CAA) 75-70 at Kaplan Arena in Williamsburg, Va.
Sunday’s win marked the Tribe’s second victory over Towson this season. Just nine days before, the Green and Gold defeated the Tigers 52-51 on the road in a matchup that featured seven lead changes and a late defensive stop to secure the win. That victory also marked the Tribe’s first win against Towson since 2020.
The Tribe started the game slowly, not only finding itself down early but also in foul trouble, recording five in the first quarter alone.
However, the Tribe picked up momentum midway through the first quarter, finding itself with a four-point advantage heading into the second quarter after a three-pointer from junior guard Monet Dance.
Throughout the second quarter, the Tribe built on its slim lead, thanks to a strong defensive performance. The Tribe press forced the Tigers into contested shots, completely stalling their offensive rhythm.
“We just wanted to play our game. We wanted to make it about us. We know that Towson is a good team,” Tribe head coach Erin Dickerson Davis said. “All we wanted to do is make sure that we were coming out with urgency.”
The Tribe was highly efficient with its possessions, shooting 75% from the field in the second quarter. The Tigers lacked an answer for junior center Tika Sallman, who was highly effective in the paint. The Tribe also capitalized on Towson’s sloppiness, outscoring the Tigers 11-2. Ultimately, these factors culminated in the Tribe jumping out to a 43-26 halftime lead.
“Hitting shots, playing together, the energy was amazing,” Dance said. “It was really nice.”
After the half, the Tribe continued capitalizing on its offensive play, dominating in the paint and forcing Towson turnovers. The Tribe ended the third quarter up 20 points, appearing to have secured the win.
Despite facing a sizable deficit with only 10 minutes remaining in the matchup, Towson continued fighting. The run started as Tigers senior guard India Johnston scored an early bucket off a turnover, which helped shift the momentum. The Tigers continued chipping away at the Tribe’s lead, cutting it all the way down to five and forcing the Tribe into a 7-minute field goal drought.
The Tribe’s three-quarter cushion ultimately held off Towson’s late comeback. A last-minute steal by senior guard Alexa Mikeska sealed the game for the Green and Gold.
Johnston ended with a season-high 31 points and 10 field goals in the effort for Towson.
Dickerson Davis applauded her team’s preparation before Sunday’s game.
“We had a really good day of practice yesterday,” Dickerson Davis said. “I think we prepared how we played today.”
Dickerson Davis also highlighted her players’ ability to work together, noting the integration of team-building activities into its workout schedule — something she also sees as key in the run-in for this season.
For Sallman, Sunday’s game also marked a significant milestone. She ended the outing with a double-double and a career-high 25 points.
“My teammates never gave up on me, and they just kept pushing me and motivated me every time,” Sallman said. “I think that’s really helping me and helped me a lot [with] how I performed today.”
Sallman also thanked the coaching staff for their encouragement after she faced early-season injuries.
Looking ahead, the Tribe will face Monmouth (16-8, 9-4 CAA) and Drexel (15-8, 8-4 CAA) in a crucial doubleheader at home next weekend.
Dickerson Davis stressed the importance of the remaining conference games and taking each matchup one at a time.
“I did not realize we won three of our last four. It’s always the next game,” Dickerson Davis said. “I’m just very proud of where we are, and I believe that we can continue on this streak.”
